APPRAISAL AND DESIGN OF LANDSCAPE ELEMENTS IN THE FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION KONTAGORA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Campus landscape design, planning, and management have to do with the arrangement of both the natural and artificial features on land for resource conservation for practicable, healthy, and pleasurable functions. The culture of efficient campus landscaping, exhibited in developing countries like Nigeria is not the same with that of the higher institutions of learning in the developed countries. This study aimed at examining the condition of the landscape elements of the Federal College of Education Kontagora, Niger State, with the view to developing a culturally integrated design proposal that would be aesthetically and functionally pleasing to users. Both primary and secondary data were employed in the study. The data required for this study included satellite imageries of the campus, the topographical map of the institution, and information on the existing hard and soft landscape elements and data on users’ perception. The data were analysed using descriptive approach, while JASP 0.9.2.0 descriptive software, ArcGIS 10.2, AutoCAD 2018, terra incognita, Global mapper, Sketch Up 2018, Lumion 8.0 were used to prepare the landscape design proposals for the institution. The study shows that there was evidence of present of both hard and soft landscape elements restricted to the clinic area alone, while departmental areas, staff quarters, hostel, the school library are left with little or no functional and aesthetically pleasing landscape. With respect to the condition of the hard landscape elements of the FCE, Kontagora, investigation revealed that the paved path (82.8%), road (66.7%), drainage (85.9%), waste bin (98%), parking area (90.8%) and water fountain (100%) were in poor condition, while the seat out (75.8%), signage (84.2%), and lighting (69.1%) were in good condition. The results of the condition of the soft landscape elements revealed that both the lawn (95.8%) and hedges (77%) are poor, while the trees (63.3%) in good condition. The prevalent challenges affecting landscape development in an FCE Kontagora range from funding (50%) and the management attitude (20%) to landscaping. In such regard, 83% of users are not satisfied with the condition of existing landscape elements of FCE Kontagora. With the aid of Google Earth map of the area, the topography map and the existing based map were extracted and then used in preparing the design proposal plan for FCE Kontagora campus landscaping.